Powi keen to rebuild Southern Highlands

By GYNNIE KEROSOUTHERN Highlands Governor William Powi says there are plans to reconcile with stakeholders and rebuild the province. This follows a Supreme Court decision on Tuesday which upheld a National Court decision by Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika in June to dismiss a petition by losing candidate Joseph Kobol who had challenged Powi’s election last year. Powi told The National yesterday he had set a lot of priorities for the 600,000 people of Southern Highlands. He said the rebuilding process would include re-establishing the Government properties destroyed in Mendi early this year. “Now that I am cleared by the court, I call on all leaders to let’s work together and rebuild and restore services,” he said. “We (SHP) will have a reconciliation ceremony with all our stakeholders in the province, including the Hela provincial government (because) our violence (had) caused the death of a policemen from Hela.” The provincial government has partnered with an Israeli firm in an agricultural project to be established at Pangia. He said they were awaiting grants from the Government to fund projects. Meanwhile, Kobol said he and his lawyer were looking at other legal options to take to challenge Powi’s election win last year.